Podcasts are “in.” There’s a podcast for pretty much anything you want, from pop culture hot takes to informational lectures. They’ve become a ubiquitous part of many people’s daily routines, and serve as a way to connect, educate, and even calm down after a stressful day. There’s one area where podcasts truly shine, and that’s in the field of creepiness — from true crime to fictional horror stories, podcasts are a great way to get your creepy fix. It’s a natural fit, and for horror lovers, it’s like being able to watch a scary movie on your way into work.
There are plenty of freaky podcasts out there on the web, but we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites, which never fail to dish up the real, the horrifying, and the downright spooky.
The Black Tapes
The Black Tapes is a serialized horror/mystery podcast that starts off a bit like the X-Files — host Alex Reagan investigates a series of tapes that supposedly have evidence of supernatural events on them. But what starts as a freak of the week story arc turns into a spiralling mystery involving kidnappings, disappearances, a mysterious shadow, and countless surprising turns.
The NoSleep Podcast
Those familiar with the popular r/nosleep subreddit — home to the best/worst fictional horror stories on the net — will love this podcast, which basically compiles some of the best horror stories from r/nosleep and offers them in an audio format. The podcast uses various voice actors to bring the stories to life, and they can be truly horrifying at times. Not recommended for before bed.
My Favorite Murder
My Favorite Murder features true crime stories of murder, with the extra horrifying tidbit of asking listeners to share their favorite and most grisly hometown murder stories, so that absolutely nowhere will be safe.
“Once I was listening to it at night driving from Alexandria to Richmond and I almost couldn’t get out of my car because I was terrified that someone was going to jump out and murder me or that a murderer was hiding in my house because we have a crawl space and an attic.” – Lauren G
Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know
This podcast focuses less on the scary and more on conspiracy theories, though they never shy away from the supernatural or eldritch. This podcast is a must-listen for those who like to question everything, but listeners looking for something a bit more macabre will find plenty of episodes to fit their fancy. Recent ones cover the death of Elisa Lam, the history of grimoires, and UFO sightings.
Up and Vanished
A Serial-esque podcast that follows the 11 year-old disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a former Georgia beauty queen and high school teacher. The podcast goes through evidence, re-interviews witnesses, and discusses the first arrest in the case after a decade of cold leads.
Lore
If you’re into freaky things, you’re probably already listening to Lore, a popular podcast that “exposes the darker side of history, exploring the creatures, people, and places of our wildest nightmares.” Lore explores true stories, diving through history to examine mysteries and freak listeners out.